Bears Open Season With 1-0 Win at Union

Schenectady, NY -
Brown sophomore Nicole Brown (Swift Current, Sask.) scored her first career goal at an opportune time, notching the only score of the night as Brown women's hockey (1-0-0, 1-0-0 ECAC) opened its 2007-08 season with a 1-0 victory over Union (0-7-0, 0-1-0 ECAC). Junior assistant captain Nicole Stock (Buffalo Grove, IL) had 17 saves to pick up the shutout between the pipes.

The teams were tied at 8:34 in the second period when Brown, moving back to her natural position at forward this season after spending nearly all of last year on the blue line, tipped a centering pass from freshman defenseman Samantha Stortini (Sudbury, Ont.) over the glove-side shoulder of Union goaltender Lundy Day. Stortini earned her first career point with the assist, while junior forward Frances Male (Toronto, Ont.) also earned an assist on the play.

After the goal, Stock handled the rest, although her best effort came in the first minute of the contest, when the Dutchwomen's Brenna Malnar skated in on a breakaway, only to have Stock stone her cold with a stick save.

Day had 30 saves on the night, as the Bears out-shot their hosts 31-17.

On Saturday, the Bears will attempt to make it two-for-two, when they travel to Troy, N.Y., to take on Rensselaer (4-1-1, 0-0-1 ECAC). Puck drops at 4 p.m.